Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Clara or Poppy?

106 replies

NamelessNinja · 24/02/2024 01:36

Down to our final two names on the shortlist and desperate to give this girl a name! Any thoughts or opinions to help?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Daisybuttercup12345 · 06/03/2024 21:10

Clara.

KirstenBlest · 03/03/2024 17:03

@ladycarlotta , I didn't say the Soph-ee-a and Mar-ee-a weren't previously correct in other countries, but if I saw the names in a historical context like a family tree of 19th century literature, I'd use the common English pronunciation of that time.
It's nothing to do with preference.

For example, in a book by Dickens I'd say Clara as Clair-a. In a play by Shakespeare I'd say Mar-eye-a. If I taught a Clara and Maria I'd say Kla-ra and Mar-ee-a.

ladycarlotta · 03/03/2024 15:09

KirstenBlest · 01/03/2024 20:03

@BigFluffyHoodie , the Clah-ra pronunciation is a recent one. It was Clair-a before. Sophia was Soph-eye-a until about 1990.
I'm not Scottish.

Sophia Gardens - Wikipedia was always Soph-eye-a

I quite like the Clair-a pronunciation but not Clah-ra

Edited

this varies country to country. The traditional English version of Sophia and Maria were Soph-eye-a and Mar-eye-a (like Carey) but in other European countries, the pronunciations we use more often now were also always correct. Soph-ee-a actually became more common in the 18th century because of the German royal family.
Same with Clara. Clair-uh might be trad in English but it comes from the Latin which very much sounds 'ahh' and not 'air'. Same in other languages in which it is a traditional name such as Spanish, German, and Swedish. And the Italian Chiara which also had the -ahh sound.
You might prefer one pronunciation over another but both are correct in English and have extensive precedent.

Babla · 02/03/2024 00:44

Both lovely

SushiSushi · 02/03/2024 00:04

Clara

FluffyToesMeow · 01/03/2024 23:54

Love Clara.

serin · 01/03/2024 23:41

Poppies are droopy and die after a day. I hate the sound of the word as well.

KirstenBlest · 01/03/2024 20:03

@BigFluffyHoodie , the Clah-ra pronunciation is a recent one. It was Clair-a before. Sophia was Soph-eye-a until about 1990.
I'm not Scottish.

Sophia Gardens - Wikipedia was always Soph-eye-a

I quite like the Clair-a pronunciation but not Clah-ra

glasshalffull0 · 01/03/2024 19:49

Poppy is such a lovely beautiful name

Clara is also nice too but there's just something that makes it not THE name for me personally

CadyEastman · 01/03/2024 19:38

Poppy is a bit 2010. Nice enough but it's definitely had its day.

Clara is so much nicer.

lavenderjump · 01/03/2024 16:21

Clara for sure! Simple and classy and suits any age

HelloDarlingWhatAreYouDoingHere · 01/03/2024 16:12

Clara - there are loads of Poppys!

mintich · 01/03/2024 14:42

Clara definitely!

Terningbay · 01/03/2024 14:36

VoiletBee89 · 29/02/2024 19:03

To jump on this, we have Clara in our shortlist too but DH wants to use Cici as a nickname when she's younger, does this work!?

Yes I don’t see why you can’t use a Cici as nickname. Some people have nicknames not even related to a name.

Terningbay · 01/03/2024 14:35

NamelessNinja · 24/02/2024 19:01

Wow I didn't expect so many replies and polarising opinions! 😂 Thanks all, opinions were very helpful.
We've settled on Clara 😊 very happy the decision is made and she is no longer nameless!

Good choice! Before I saw your update I was going to comment that I love Clara, it was on my list. I also loved Poppy as a teen (I knew a couple and thought it was really cool), but think it’s been a bit overused now. Clara is beautiful.

KirstenBlest · 01/03/2024 11:44

VoiletBee89 · 29/02/2024 19:03

To jump on this, we have Clara in our shortlist too but DH wants to use Cici as a nickname when she's younger, does this work!?

No

trainboundfornowhere · 29/02/2024 20:52

Clara

VoiletBee89 · 29/02/2024 19:03

To jump on this, we have Clara in our shortlist too but DH wants to use Cici as a nickname when she's younger, does this work!?

ChocolateCinderToffee · 25/02/2024 09:13

Clara. Poppy is a name for a pet.

pilates · 25/02/2024 06:13

Congratulations and good choice 🌺

MaloneMeadow · 24/02/2024 22:28

Congratulations OP! Beautiful choice, I love Clara ❤️

PennyPugwash · 24/02/2024 20:34

Clara ✨

Kittybelle123 · 24/02/2024 19:36

Beautiful 😍 well done on your decision ❤️Clara is lovely - I used to watch the Royal Ballet perform The Nutcracker (not Barbie, but I am not averse to it.....!) every year with my grandmother. To me, it's an enchanting and beautiful name ❤️

Hibernatalie · 24/02/2024 19:32

100% Clara. I love it and it's under used.

Onelife2024 · 24/02/2024 19:25

NamelessNinja · 24/02/2024 19:01

Wow I didn't expect so many replies and polarising opinions! 😂 Thanks all, opinions were very helpful.
We've settled on Clara 😊 very happy the decision is made and she is no longer nameless!

Lovely ☺️ Thanks so much for letting us know! And congratulations!

Swipe left for the next trending thread